Head of the ClassHow to teach psychology wellhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/
en-US30Mon, 13 Jul 2015 12:26:20 -0500Mon, 13 Jul 2015 17:37:04 -0500Some Advice for First-Time College Students and Parentshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201507/some-advice-first-time-college-students-and-parents
It's normal for first time college students and their parents to be a little jittery about this exciting transition and there are things to think about and to do that can make it a good one.EducationParentingPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201507/some-advice-first-time-college-students-and-parents#comments1077258 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 13 Jul 2015 12:26:20 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Teaching Psychologyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201506/fiction-non-fiction-and-teaching-psychology
Fewer students enjoy reading for reading's sake—we need to integrate literary fiction and good non-fiction into the classroom. Doing so can bring psychological ideas alive but also help students appreciate reading for pleasure and insight into behavior.EducationFantasiesPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201506/fiction-non-fiction-and-teaching-psychology#comments1076385 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 22 Jun 2015 12:24:48 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Sharing Ideashttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201506/sharing-ideas
Sharing ideas about teaching with colleagues should happen more often than it likely does--there is always practical advice that experienced instructors can share with new teachers.EducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201506/sharing-ideas#comments1075543 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 01 Jun 2015 15:59:27 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Step Away From the Cell Phonehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201505/step-away-the-cell-phone
What are we missing when we focus too much attention on our smartphones?EducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201505/step-away-the-cell-phone#comments1074665 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 11 May 2015 07:05:09 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Final Exams Are Just Around the Cornerhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201504/final-exams-are-just-around-the-corner
Like birth, death, and taxes, finals are inevitable—and always there at the end of term for undergraduates in psychology and all other academic disciplines. How best to prepare for them?CognitionEducationMotivationParentingPsych CareersSleepSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201504/final-exams-are-just-around-the-corner#comments1073679 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 16 Apr 2015 13:07:54 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Teaching Evolves?!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201503/teaching-evolves
The lecture isn't dead—but it is no longer the only approach college and university faculty use in their teaching.EducationPsych CareersShynesshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201503/teaching-evolves#comments1072703 at http://psychologytoday.comMon, 23 Mar 2015 14:56:25 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.It's a Wrap!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201503/its-wrap
How can we get students to review what they did wrong on exams and papers?ConscientiousnessCreativityEducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201503/its-wrap#comments1071835 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 03 Mar 2015 10:14:11 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Don't Say Thathttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201502/dont-say
Students sometimes say the darnedest things—can we help them to think a bit before blurting?EducationEmotional IntelligenceGuiltPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201502/dont-say#comments1070964 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 10 Feb 2015 13:23:58 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Helping Students Leverage Skills Learned in Psychologyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201501/helping-students-leverage-skills-learned-in-psychology
Psychology majors, like most undergraduates, are future-oriented--they look to what will happen after they graduate. But getting there, they often focus more on completing required courses ("hoop jumping") than thinking about what particular and important skills they have learned in their courses, skills that they can share with prospective employers, among others.EducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201501/helping-students-leverage-skills-learned-in-psychology#comments168980 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 21 Jan 2015 10:39:15 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Christmas Longings: How Best to Savor the Holiday?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201412/christmas-longings-how-best-savor-the-holiday
Christmas comes earlier and earlier and stays longer and longer--are we losing something by stretching out the holiday season for too long a time?Child DevelopmentEducationHappinessMemoryPsych CareersWisdomhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201412/christmas-longings-how-best-savor-the-holiday#comments167394 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 26 Dec 2014 10:57:30 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.The End Is Near!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201412/the-end-is-near
Final exams are a part of college life. Preparing well for them is a good idea. There are some basic do-able steps any student can take to work to improve his or her final course grade. Instructors, friends, and family members might learn some things here, too. Share these suggestions with a student you know.EducationPsych CareersRace and EthnicitySleepSocial LifeWisdomhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201412/the-end-is-near#comments165995 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 04 Dec 2014 09:10:04 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.YouTube and Me, or the Death of Classroom Documentaries?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201411/youtube-and-me-or-the-death-classroom-documentaries
Why do otherwise intelligent and motivated college students struggle to watch documentaries? Can--should--anything be done? Or, should psychology instructors just go with quick, cute, default downloads from YouTube and move on?ConformityEducationEmpathyPsych CareersSleepSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201411/youtube-and-me-or-the-death-classroom-documentaries#comments164251 at http://psychologytoday.comTue, 11 Nov 2014 08:34:56 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Courageous Candor and Teaching Psychologyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201410/courageous-candor-and-teaching-psychology
What should faculty members do about students who are not succeeding as psychology majors? In effect, should we steer them to some other major?CareerEducationEmpathyPsych CareersSelf-ControlSelf-EsteemSport and CompetitionStage FrightTherapyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201410/courageous-candor-and-teaching-psychology#comments162699 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 23 Oct 2014 09:39:44 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Leading Effective Class Discussions: Some Suggestionshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201410/leading-effective-class-discussions-some-suggestions
Class discussion promotes student learning of and engagement with course material. What are some ways to get good discussions started?BiasEducationMarriagePsych CareersPunishmentSexStage Frighthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201410/leading-effective-class-discussions-some-suggestions#comments161191 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 02 Oct 2014 07:31:25 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Only Connect: How Colleges Could Work Betterhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201409/only-connect-how-colleges-could-work-better
A new book offers helpful suggestions for improving the curricular and co-curricular experience of college students.EducationPsych CareersTeamworkWisdomhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201409/only-connect-how-colleges-could-work-better#comments159521 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 11 Sep 2014 12:04:54 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Getting a (Really) Good Start in Collegehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201408/getting-really-good-start-in-college
What can you do to ensure you have a successful first year at college? What are some helpful steps to take? Mom, Dad, friends, relatives of students, share these recommendations. Your college-bound students will be glad you did!AnxietyDietEducationGratitudeHealthIdentityLonelinessSelf-HelpShynessSleephttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201408/getting-really-good-start-in-college#comments158054 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 21 Aug 2014 13:33:00 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.The Ambivalence of Augusthttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201407/the-ambivalence-august
August is here, summer will soon be over—and what have you accomplished? What can you salvage before the new academic year begins and you are back in the classroom?CareerEducationJealousyPsych CareersSelf-Controlhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201407/the-ambivalence-august#comments156428 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 31 Jul 2014 12:43:08 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Solitary (Writing) Confinementhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201407/solitary-writing-confinement
Writing is a challenge for many people, perhaps because it is a solitary, even lonely, business. Must we write alone or can we be productive in public places?EducationGuiltPsych CareersSelf-ControlSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201407/solitary-writing-confinement#comments154781 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 09 Jul 2014 10:31:29 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.What's in a Name?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201406/whats-in-name
It's easy for students to learn a professor's name--there's one of him or her. But how can a teacher learn all the names of students in a class? And what happens in years to come when casual run-ins on the street occur? There may be an elegant solution to this common teaching problem.EducationHumorLeadershipMemoryPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201406/whats-in-name#comments153146 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 18 Jun 2014 12:08:20 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.What is Summer For? Recalculating!https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201405/what-is-summer-recalculating
Summertime is a great time to plan your future. Don't be too lazy during the hazy days--have fun, yes, but use the time wisely and well, too, by "recalculating."CareerEducationHealthMemoryPsych CareersSelf-Controlhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201405/what-is-summer-recalculating#comments151753 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 28 May 2014 16:07:28 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Teaching About Practical Steps to Creativityhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201405/teaching-about-practical-steps-creativity
It's nice when teaching and research inform daily life—and here is some intriguing evidence about the creative impact of walking.CognitionCreativityEducationMemoryPsych CareersStresshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201405/teaching-about-practical-steps-creativity#comments150181 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 07 May 2014 11:06:56 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.On Pleasing Students, or the Goldilocks's Problemhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201404/pleasing-students-or-the-goldilockss-problem
Psychology teachers should routinely introduce changes to how their courses run. When they, however, it can be like dealing with Goldilocks--the porridge might be too hot, the chair too small, and so on. What to do?EducationParentingPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201404/pleasing-students-or-the-goldilockss-problem#comments148580 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 17 Apr 2014 09:18:18 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.That Question: “What’s a Psychology Degree Worth, Anyway?"https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201403/question-what-s-psychology-degree-worth-anyway
A college education is expensive—we all know that. But is a future salary the only return on investment (ROI) we should be concerned with? Aren't there important educational intangibles that provide us with a rich life then as well as later?AdolescenceAnxietyCareerChild DevelopmentEducationEmbarrassmentHappinessPositive PsychologyPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201403/question-what-s-psychology-degree-worth-anyway#comments147032 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 27 Mar 2014 09:09:46 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Vocabularies, the Evolving SAT, and Teaching Psychologyhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201403/vocabularies-the-evolving-sat-and-teaching-psychology
The SAT is changing: Vocabulary words on the test are to become less obscure and more aligned with college curricula. What does this mean for the learning of obscure words in or out of psychology?EducationIntelligencePsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201403/vocabularies-the-evolving-sat-and-teaching-psychology#comments145599 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 06 Mar 2014 12:37:38 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Need to Remember Something? There's No App for Thathttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201402/need-remember-something-theres-no-app
Taking notes using traditional methods—writing in longhand, for example—appears to promote better learning and retention of course material than does taking notes on a laptop computer. This finding should have consequences for how technology is used in the classroom.BeautyCareerCognitionEducationMemoryPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201402/need-remember-something-theres-no-app#comments144134 at http://psychologytoday.comFri, 14 Feb 2014 10:00:32 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Test Early, Test Often?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201401/test-early-test-often
Can routine, repeated quizzing or testing actually lead to enhanced academic performance? Apparently so!EducationEnvironmentMemoryPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201401/test-early-test-often#comments142366 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 23 Jan 2014 09:13:07 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Trust but Verify: Replication Is Important—for Teaching, Toohttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201401/trust-verify-replication-is-important-teaching-too
In order to be taken seriously, findings in psychological science need to be replicable, that is, found independently and consistently. Establishing a similar standard for teaching research and pedagogical demonstrations makes sense and will go a long way towards promoting educational integrity.EducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201401/trust-verify-replication-is-important-teaching-too#comments140959 at http://psychologytoday.comThu, 02 Jan 2014 12:52:39 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Holiday Gifts for Psychology Teachers, Students, and Othershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201312/holiday-gifts-psychology-teachers-students-and-others
It can be better to give than to receive, but what kinds of gifts should you give to those interested in psychology?BeautyEducationHappinessLaughterPositive PsychologyPsych CareersSocial Networkinghttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201312/holiday-gifts-psychology-teachers-students-and-others#comments139573 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 11 Dec 2013 08:39:19 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Evaluating Teaching Faculty or Faculty Who Teach? Huh? What?https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201311/evaluating-teaching-faculty-or-faculty-who-teach-huh-what
Most college and university faculty teach, but not all faculty are teaching faculty. Huh? What? Faculty members have distinct duties depending upon the nature of the institution where they work, not to mention that there are different types of adjunct colleagues. The situation is more complex than it appears—students need to know and so does the general public.CareerEducationPsych Careershttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201311/evaluating-teaching-faculty-or-faculty-who-teach-huh-what#comments138058 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 20 Nov 2013 11:33:52 -0600Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.Early Decision and College Admission: Waiting is Hardhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201310/early-decision-and-college-admission-waiting-is-hard
How should high school seniors applying early decision handle their immediate futures? What should they do and not do? How should they act?AnxietyEducationEmpathyGratitudeHealthParentingPsych CareersStresshttps://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-the-class/201310/early-decision-and-college-admission-waiting-is-hard#comments136498 at http://psychologytoday.comWed, 30 Oct 2013 10:25:45 -0500Head of the ClassDana S Dunn Ph.D.